Wanda Gertz

* 13.04.1896 (Warsaw)† 10.11-1958 (London) Poland

Fields of activity: organizer and instructor in military training camps for women in the interwar period, during the German occupation soldier of the Home Army (in the rank of major), a member of the Warsaw Uprising

Author: Halina Miksa, Czesław Miksa

EnglishPolish

»From an early age my
dream was to become a soldier in the Polish army. «

Wanda
Gertz

Why I consider this woman to be an important person?

The World War
I played a significant role in the emancipation of women. Women were forced to
take the place of the men who were fighting at the front. In addition to
working in factories, on trains and in hospitals, they were forced to guard the
food shipments with weapons in their hands. For some women, it was not enough.
They cut their hair, and bandaged their breasts and disguised in men’s clothes,
with false documents, they set out to the front at the fight.

Wanda Gertz
was one of 30 women who set off on the front of World War I in male disguise,
but she was the only one who had the opportunity to test herself in combat with
the enemy.

Biography

Wanda Gertz, daughter of Jan and Florentyna John, was born on April the
13th, 1896 in
Warsaw. Family
von Schliss Gertz arrived on the Polish territory in the eighteenth century
from Saxony. They quickly felt at home here.
Wanda's father was involved in the January Uprising. At her parents’ home the
former insurgents met, recalling times conspiracy and fighting against the
occupants. Wanda grew up in an atmosphere of insurgent stories told by her
father and his friends. Already then, she dreamed of military service.

In 1913 she graduated from high school and went to study bookkeeping
courses, at the same time she started working in a secret scouting
organization. In addition to the scout team she participated in the
Confederation of Polish. The purpose of this organization was to raise the
spirit of independence and the promotion of shooting skills. Wanda’s task was
to deliver proclamations to the houses and to sew haversacks for the soldiers
of the Polish Military Organization.

After the outbreak of World War I (1914), as a member of the KP she took
part in equipping the Warsaw Battalion. But was not satisfied with the work of
an assistant. She was very disappointed when, in September the Battalion moved
to the front and received a categorical ban on admission of women to the
service line.

This did not discourage Wanda.

In a male disguise she volunteered to serve, under the name of Kazimierz
Żuchowicz. Only a few people at the headquarters knew that Kazik Żuchowicz was
a girl. During the period of 1914 - 1915 she served in the Pilsudski’s Legion.

Not show her physical weakness, she undertook the hardest work. She has
worked at moving the railway underlies, she learned to ride a horse, also
learned the secrets of handling cannons, laid and repaired telephone lines. She
has also participated in direct combat.
Due to Pilsudski’s conflict with the Austrians, the legions were withdrawn from
the Austrian Army. Wanda received leave and returned to Warsaw. Thus ended the frontal career of
Kazik Żuchowicz.

After returning to Warsaw
she proceeded to work in the Women’s Department of Polish Military Organization,
which prepared false passports, arranged lodgings and food, organized storage
of weapons and explosives. During this period, she used her family name. In
April 1919 she joined the Polish Army, and in September was the commander of II
Voluntary Women’s Legion in Vilnius.

After the outbreak of World War II, she was sworn into the Service for Poland’s Victory and as Lena
started to work in the underground. In the years 1942 - 1944 she organized and
was the commander of the female section of subversion and sabotage called Disk.

Together with her unit she fought in the Warsaw Uprising (1944). After
the collapse of the uprising she was a prisoner of war in the following camps
Lamsdorf, Mühlberg, Molsdorf and Blankenheim. In Blankenheim she was the
commander of the Polish camp. She cared about the fate of their wards, wrote
innumerable complaints against the German command. After the camp was liberated
by the Americans she went to London.
In May 1946, after the creation of Polish Training and Resettlement Corps, she
became an instructor of women - soldiers. Her job was to prepare women for
civilian life, under the British law. After the dissolution of Resettlement
Corps, in February 1949, despite serious illness, she undertook physical work.
She did not want to use the benefits.

Not everyone can achieve their childhood dreams. Wanda Gertz managed to
do this. She never had a family, but devoted her whole life to what she loved
most - military service.

She died on November 10, 1958
in poverty, in exile. Through the efforts of her
comrades in arms her ashes were brought to the Poland
and buried in Warsaw at the Powazki Cemetery.